What began as a peaceful protest soon turned violent as activists in Brazil clashed with police on Friday during a nationwide strike and demonstration against scandal-hit President Michel Temer. <br /><br />Security forces launched tear gas at protesters in Rio de Janeiro who hit back with fireworks. <br /><br />Unions are seeking to stop Temer’s unpopular administration from pushing a series of changes to labour and pension laws through Congress. <br /><br />One street vendor in Rio said: “I am selling less and less popcorn. Since Temer came in, things are getting worse.”<br /><br />Unions also took to the streets of Sao Paulo, bringing the mega-city to a standstill. <br /><br />Temer, whose embattled government has an approval rating in single digits, has resisted repeated calls to go, despite being accused of taking bribes. <br /><br />Earlier this week prosecutors charged him with corruption.<br />
